Deron Williams Comments on Tenure with Brooklyn Nets

Deron Williams was once believed to be the player who could help revitalize the Brooklyn Nets. But his time in New York proved to be the worst three-year stretch of his career, and his separation from the team ended ugly.

He’s found a happier home with the Dallas Mavericks, but he told Michael Lee of Yahoo Sports that his tenure in Brooklyn took a massive toll on his psychological well-being.

"It took a lot out of me, man, those three years,” Williams said. "Some of the hardest in my life. Made me question if I even wanted to play basketball when I was done with that contract."

Williams and the Nets parted ways when the team agreed to waive him in July, which freed up cap space and allowed him to return to his hometown in Dallas.

The move was a culmination of both parties' frustration over Williams' production. Williams was also limited by injuries, which he largely kept under wraps and played through.

As such, it translated to an unfavorable perception among the New York fans and media, which Williams elaborated on, per Lee:

"

I wish I wouldn't have been hurt. I wish I would've played better and people didn't feel like I was just stealing money. That's the last thing I want people to feel like. It didn't work out the way anybody had hoped. ... You know, you can always think, what ifs? But you never know. I probably still would've been hurt. Still would've had to have ankle surgeries on both ankles. So you never know.

Being hurt takes a toll on you. You've got expectations being put on you. 'Missing' posters being put up all around New York. It's just a lot of pressure there. Not only from the outside, but pressure I put on myself. But I feel like there is not much pressure now.

"

Williams claims to have found solace in Dallas, where he’s started 25 of the team’s 27 games. He's averaging 33.1 minutes, 15.1 points, 5.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game in a season that’s been his best since he left Utah.

He’s still collecting the $11 million he and the Nets agreed upon, per Spotrac, and the Mavs are only paying half of it—meaning both sides are probably happy.

The Nets, meanwhile, are the third-worst team in the NBA and don’t have much hope for continued improvement. They may have rid themselves of a player they no longer wanted, but Williams and the Mavs look to be winning.